It’s not unusual to receive friend requests from strangers on Facebook. There are a few common reasons why you may be getting multiple friend requests:
Your profile is public
If your Facebook profile is public, it means anyone can see your profile picture, cover photo, and information like your workplace, school, location, etc. Public profiles tend to attract more friend requests from people you don’t know, because strangers can easily find you and see some basic information about you.
To make your profile more private:
- Go to your profile and click on the three dots in the top right corner.
- Select “View As…” to see what your profile looks like to the public.
- Go to your About section and make sure the options like Workplace, Education, Location, Contact Info etc. are only visible to Friends or a custom group, not Public.
Making these changes means your basic info won’t be visible to strangers searching Facebook, which should reduce random friend requests.
You’re part of large open groups
Being a member of large, public Facebook groups can lead to more friend requests. When you join an open group (one that anyone can see and join), other members of that group are able to send you friend requests.
Some people mass friend request group members in hopes of growing their own friend list. If you’re part of multiple large, open groups this can lead to a flood of requests from strangers.
To avoid this:
- Be selective about which groups you join, avoiding open groups with thousands of members.
- Adjust your friend request settings to only allow requests from friends of friends.
- Decline requests from people you don’t know who are clearly spamming group members.
Your friends have loose privacy settings
If people you are friends with have loose privacy settings, their friends can see connection to you, and may send you requests. For example, if your friend has a public friends list, anyone who is friends with them can see you listed and can then send you a request.
You may want to gently encourage your friends to “clean up” their privacy settings. To restrict who can see your name on their friends list, they can:
- Go to Friends > Edit Privacy > Limit Old Posts
- Select “Friends Except” and specifically exclude people who are not mutual friends.
This will prevent strangers from seeing their connection to you and reaching out.
You have mutual friends or interests
Having mutual friends or interests are two of the most common legitimate reasons for receiving a friend request from a stranger on Facebook.
If you share several mutual friends with someone, they may want to connect because they feel there is already a connection there. Similarly, if you’re both members of the same niche groups or pages, someone may send a request because they think you likely have some shared interests.
These requests have good intentions, though you should still only accept if you know the person or want to get to know them better.
Your account was compromised
A flood of new friend requests can actually be a sign that your account has been compromised. Hackers who gain access to accounts will sometimes send mass friend requests in hopes of then compromising those accounts as well.
Other signs your account may be hacked include:
- Unusual posts or messages you didn’t create
- New groups you didn’t join
- Unknown logins from other locations/devices
If you suspect your account has been hacked, change your password immediately and turn on login notifications to be alerted of any unusual activity.
You have a desirable name
Strangers may send you friend requests on Facebook simply because they like your name. Having a unique first name, funny last name, or name that sounds similar to a celebrity can attract random requests.
While they probably mean no harm, these requests are easy to spot and decline if it’s clear the person does not actually know you and just wants to connect because of your name.
Bots and fake accounts
Facebook has millions of bots and fake accounts at any given time. These accounts are often used to send spam friend requests or spread scams.
Signs of a potential fake account or bot sending you requests:
- Profile has no posts and zero real friends
- Profile picture looks like a stock photo or avatar
- Activity appears automated or nonlinearity consistent
Facebook works to delete these accounts, but new ones are constantly popping up. When in doubt, check the person’s profile for real activity before accepting.
Someone is trying to scam you
Unfortunately, scammers operate on Facebook and may use friend requests as a starting point to message or trick you.
Some signs the request could be a scammer include:
- Messaging right away asking for personal information
- Profile is new with few details filled out
- Language used is repetitive and sounds automated
Use caution when interacting with a new friend who exhibits suspicious behavior. Never give out financial information or passwords to someone you don’t know.
You have an appealing profile
Just like in real life, some Facebook profiles naturally attract more interest and connection requests than others. If you have qualities like an attractive photo, desirable lifestyle depicted, or a compelling About Me section you may get more requests, including some from strangers hoping to get to know you.
As long as the requests are respectful, this type of attention is harmless. But you should feel empowered to only engage with those you want to connect with.
Facebook suggestions
Facebook’s algorithms try to recommend new connections for you to expand your network. Suggested friends will often appear at the top of your list of notifications.
Facebook offers friend suggestions based on:
- Mutual friends/connections
- Shared interests like groups or pages
- Location and other demographic factors
- Interactions like commenting on the same post
Their suggestions are hit or miss. Feel free to ignore ones that seem totally random. But suggested friends can be a good way to genuinely expand your real-world network online.
Social media marketing
Businesses and personal brands may use friend requests as a social media marketing tactic. Doing a mass friend request outreach is an easy way for them to grow followers and increase engagement.
You’ll notice these accounts quickly if the friend requests come alongside a marketing message or the account is clearly representing a brand, not a person. No need to accept if you aren’t interested in their content.
Romantic interest
Some friend requests are from people who want to get to know you on a romantic level. They may have found you through mutual friends, a dating app, or social media.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with pursuing new relationships via Facebook. But proceed cautiously, especially if the person is overly eager or aggressive in connecting with you quickly.
You have a visible job/position
If your Facebook profile lists a public-facing job like artist, politician, journalist, or business executive you are more likely to get unsolicited friend requests. People may want to connect because they admire your work or share professional interests.
Like any industry networking, vet these requests carefully. Make sure the person is genuine before accepting.
How to respond to unwanted requests
When you receive a sketchy friend request on Facebook, you have a few options:
- Ignore it: Requests from strangers will expire after 14 days if ignored.
- Decline request: Removes the request so they can’t send it again.
- Add to Restricted List: Prevents them from viewing your profile or posts.
- Report account: Alert Facebook of suspicious behavior like harassment, scamming, or fake accounts.
In most cases, unwanted requests are harmless and you can simply ignore them. But report any concerning activity to keep Facebook safe and secure for everyone.
Preventing unwanted requests
While you’ll likely continue to get some random friend requests as long as you’re on Facebook, there are steps you can take to reduce them:
- Make your profile private
- Leave public groups with thousands of members
- Limit who can see your friends list
- Turn on email notifications for new logins
- Change settings to review all friend requests
- Only accept requests from people you know
Staying vigilant about privacy and security settings will cut down on unwanted outreach while still allowing you to connect with people you know and trust.
Conclusion
Receiving multiple friend requests from strangers is common on Facebook. Most requests are harmless, though some may be from fake accounts, scammers, or overly eager strangers. Protect your privacy, but don’t be afraid to engage with genuine connection attempts coming through those you share mutual friends or interests with.
Stay alert, don’t accept requests that seem suspicious, and report concerning behavior. With the right balance of caution and openness, you can expand your Facebook network safely.